Baxter: I had a long conversation with Benni McCarthy

Cape Town - Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter reveals that he had a discussion with Cape Town City mentor Benni McCarthy before including Kermit Erasmus in his provisional 30-man Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.

The 32nd edition of the first-ever 24-team tournament will take place in Egypt from June 21-July 19.

South Africa have been drawn in Group D in what has been termed the 'Group of Death' where they will face Morocco, Ivory Coast and Namibia.

Erasmus will be hoping he gets the nod for the final 23-player squad that needs to be confirmed by Sunday, June 9.

"Kermit is one of the players that has been around us. We chose not to include him in previous camps because I always felt that it was too quick," Baxter said as quoted by KickOff website.

"I had a long conversation with Benni McCarthy before the last camp and I explained that he did a good job with Kermit. He put his arm around him and made him feel important again," Baxter said.

"I also said to Benni, and he agreed with me, that I could not guarantee Kermit that place in Bafana and I thought that when he came back he should really be equipped to understand the situation.

"I think he understands the situation now because he has worked hard during the season. Without promising him anything, he has managed to get himself back into the fold."

Bafana get their tournament started against Ivory Coast on Monday, June 24 in Cairo before playing at the same venue on Friday, June 28 against Namibia.

They then round off their group stage with a match against Morocco on Monday, July 1.

BAFANA BAFANA AFCON SQUAD:

Goalkeepers

Darren Keet (Wits), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders

Daniel Cardoso (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Wits), Buhle Mkhwanazi (Wits), Sifiso Hlanti (Wits), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City)

Midfielders

Bongani Zungu (France, Amiens), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tiyani Mabunda (Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), Kamohelo Mokotjo (England, Brentford), Thulani Serero (Netherlands, Vitesse FC), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier, France), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg United), Ben Motshwari (Orlando Pirates)

Forwards

Lebo Mothiba (France, Strasbourg), Percy Tau (Belgium, Royal Union Saint), Lars Veldwijk (Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Cape Town City)

*Pending Passport - Nikolas Tavares (England, Crystal Palace) and Joel Untersee (Switzerland, FC Zurich)